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Depicting Montana through architecture and art
Published
9 years agoon
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Outlaw PartnersThe Lark motel opens in downtown Bozeman
By Taylor-Ann Smith Explore Big Sky Graphic Designer
BOZEMAN – At the corner of Grand Avenue and Main Street, the new Lark motel is an ideal starting point for exploring Bozeman. Don’t expect to see an antler chandelier dangling from the ceiling and rawhide on the floors – this motel presents Montana the way Montanans see it.
It’s more than a new place to stay on Bozeman’s Main Street – The Lark replaced the Imperial Motor Inn that closed in 2009, and is a visual representation for the town’s unmistakable community bond. Opened on April 2, the new motel is a place for the traveler and not the tourist – a contrast to the traditional motor inn, according to Brian Caldwell, a partner, investor, and lead architect for The Lark.
“We wanted to take all these negative aspects of a typical motel – tiny hallways, cheap furniture, dingy spaces – and make them into the positive traits of this building,” Caldwell said.
Also the co-owner of the Bozeman-based architecture firm Thinktank Design Group, Caldwell says the fundamental layouts for The Lark are explicitly focused on human interactions and layering of privacy.
The Lark, while innovative in its creativity – Bozeman’s MercuryCSC marketing firm was heavily involved in the project’s graphic design – is also rife with Montana charms displayed in new manners. Each guestroom features an infographic depicting facts about Bozeman and Montana in a unique layout, created by various local designers. One room includes a depiction of the largest recorded fish caught in the state, scaled to size, and arranged across the main wall.
The wall of another room shows a simple map of the highest
“The Lark did an outstanding job at spreading the love for locals throughout the building,” Hoffman said, adding that one room has a full-scale depiction of a moose. “The walls were our canvases, and we went big. We really took the time to make sure each piece fit exactly as it should. Some were initially only a couple feet big once installed. But then we’d go back, adjust the dimensions, and make them really impactful by spanning the length of the wall.”
Each bathroom in the motel features an abstract piece by local artist and MSU art professor Sukha Worob, who based his installations off his recent study on density. Worob photographs Bozeman community members and creates hand-cast rubber stamps that are then used to create a population of figures directly on the wall. He personally installed each piece, customized to the particular bathroom.
Aside from the thoughtful rooms, guests are also made to feel at home in the motel’s common areas. One can enjoy fresh food from Victory Taco – a vintage 1948 food truck operated by the owners of Roost Fried Kitchen that has a permanent home in the parking lot – while sitting next to the open-air fire pit, with a view of bustling Main Street.
Inside the lobby, minimalist leather and wood furniture surround Montana knickknacks ranging from books to cameras. Guests can sip fresh coffee from local roaster Little Red Wagon Coffee, while perusing a variety of regional maps and guides.
“This was our first inception-to-completion project and it was truly the community that made it happen,” said Erik Nelson, Caldwell’s business partner at Thinktank. “We’re here to show you how to experience Bozeman for what it is, rather than what everyone expects it to be.”
The Lark does just that.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
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Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
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March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
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Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
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We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
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We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
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Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome
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Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome to come, if you don’t know who to bring come alone this is a great mixer event! This is an event hosted by Big Sky OUT as we work to provide queer safe spaces throughout the community.
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(Sunday) 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
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Cowboy Coffee
25 Town Center Ave. Big Sky, MT 59716